Nail clipper with nail collection mechanism

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings. The nail clipper includes two steel plates connected at one end and with cutting edges at an opposing end, and an operating lever, which moves the cutting edges of the plates together. A pivot pin is inserted through bores in both first and second plates, at a spaced distance behind the cutting edges. A grommet encircles the portion of the pin between the plates and maintains a spaced distance between the plates to form an opening for receiving a nail. The space between the foam and the topside of the second plate forms a receptacle for receiving nail clippings after they fall downwards from the cutting edges. The clippings may be emptied directly into a trash bin by tilting the nail clipper sideways.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION

The present application derives priority from U.S. provisionalapplication No. 60/772,128 filed 25 Jan. 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to nail clippers and, more particularly,to an improved nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor thatprevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nailclippings.

2. Description of the Background

A key component of a well-groomed appearance is a set of carefullytrimmed nails. While cosmetically attractive nails that are clean andneatly trimmed are also an important factor in a person's overallhealth. Although the importance of trimming one's finger and toenails isundisputed, there is a drawback associated with this procedure.Specifically, collecting and disposing loose nail clippings after thenails have been neatly trimmed can be difficult. Most fingernailclippers feature sharp blades, which clamp together to cut the nail,when the user compresses an operating lever connected to the blades. Thepressure created when compressing the clipper blades can easily forcethe clipped nail to propel from the nail clippers. Nail clippings oftencontain germs and bacteria. Handling nail clippings, even simply to tossthem in a garbage bin can be an unsanitary and unpleasant experience.

Therefore, it would be greatly advantageous to provide a nail clipperincluding an incorporated nail arrestor that: 1) prevents theunconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings; 2) collectsnail clippings in a neat and efficient manner; 3) allows the user todispose nail clippings without touching them; 4) collects and discardsnail clippings in a sanitary manner which could effectively reduce thespread of germs and bacteria; 5) possesses a simple and scalable design;6) is fabricated of lightweight materials providing an appropriatedegree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity; 7) isinexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide for widespread use anddisposability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a nailclipper with a nail collection mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipperincluding an incorporated nail arrestor that prevents the unconstrainedejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipperwhich includes a receptacle formed by a grommet disposed within cuttingblades, whereby the receptacle catches nail clippings as they are cutfrom the nail.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a nailclipper that efficiently collects and discards nail clippings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipperthat allows users to discard loose nail clippings without having totouch the clippings.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a nailclipper that possesses a simple and scalable design.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a nail clipperthat is fabricated of lightweight materials providing an appropriatedegree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a nailclipper that is inexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide forwidespread use and disposability.

In accordance with the above and other objects, the device of thepresent invention is a nail clipper including an incorporated nailarrestor. The nail clipper includes two steel plates connected at oneend and with cutting edges at an opposing end, and an operatingthumb-detent lever, which moves the cutting edges of the platestogether. A pivot pin is inserted through bores in both first and secondplates, at a spaced distance behind the cutting edges. The lever is heldcaptive on the pivot pin external to the first plate for biasing the twoplates together. A grommet encircles the portion of the pivot pinresting between the plates and maintains a spaced distance between theplates to form an opening for receiving a nail. The space between thefoam and the topside of the second plate forms a receptacle forreceiving nail clippings after they fall downwards from the cuttingedges. The clippings may be emptied directly into a trash bin by tiltingthe nail clipper sideways, thereby allowing the clippings to slide outof the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the clipper 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clipper 1 cutting a nail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a nail clipper 1 including an incorporated nailarrestor that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cutnail clippings 9. FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the clipper 1.The nail clipper 1 largely comprises a conventional nail clipperincluding a first plate 2 and a second plate 3. First plate 2 includes adown turned cutting edge 4 and a second plate 3 includes an upturnedcutting edge 5 at one end. The cutting edges 4, 5 may be slightlycontoured, having a crescent shape, which accommodates the natural shapeof the fingernail and toenail. A bore (not shown) is drilled through theopposing end of both plates 2, 3. A pin 6 is inserted through the boresto connect first 2 and second 3 plates together. Alternately anysuitable means may be utilized to connect said first 2 and second 3plates together, such as welding or gluing. A bore (not shown) isdrilled into each of first 2 and second plates 3 at a spaced distancebehind the cutting edges 4, 5, and a pivot pin 7 is inserted througheach bore to secure first 2 and second plates 3 together. An operatingthumb-detent lever 11 is held captive on the pivot pin 7 external to thefirst plate 2 for biasing the two plates 2, 3 together. First 2 andsecond plates 3, lever 11, and pins 6, 7 each comprise stainless steel.

In accordance with the present invention, an elastic grommet 8 encirclesthe portion of the pivot pin 7 between the first 2 and second 3 plates,using the pin 7 as an axis. The grommet 8 may be formed of rubber, foamor other suitable resilient material, cut in an annular-discconfiguration with a central through-bore for passing the pin 7. Thegrommet 8 is dimensioned with a pre-determined diameter calculated toexpand outward to abut the cutting edges 4, 5 when the two plates 2, 3are levered together to cut a nail. Grommet 8 is also sized with avertical (axial) dimension that spans the two plates 2, 3 in order toimpart a bias there between. This way, as a user levers the two plates2, 3 together to clip a nail, the plates 2, 3 will sandwich the grommet8 and compress it, causing grommet 8 to radially expand. Preferably, theaxial dimension of grommet 8 is such that it begins to expandimmediately as plates 2, 3 are forced together. Grommet 8 is radiallydimensioned so that upon full compression it will extend to and abut theinner cutting edges 4, 5 of plates 2, 3. This way, the elastic grommet 8expands outward to pin clipped nails against the cutting edges 4, 5 ofplates 2, 3, and will hold a clipped nail 9 in place after it is cut.The space between the grommet 8 and the topside of the second plate 3forms a receptacle 10 for receiving nail clippings 9 after they falldownwards from the cutting edges 4, 5.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clipper 1 cutting a nail. When theoperating lever 11 is depressed it contacts the top surface of firstplate 2, and the cutting edges 4, 5 of first 2 and second 3 plates movecloser together and thereby cut the nail inserted through the opening,and the resulting nail clipping falls 9 into the receptacle 10. Afterall of the nails are cut, the resulting clippings 9 accumulated withinthe receptacle 10 may be emptied directly into a trash bin by tiltingthe nail clipper 1 sideways, thereby allowing the clippings 9 to slideout of the receptacle 10. Hence, the nail clipper 1 allows users todiscard loose nail clippings 9 without having to touch the clippings 9.

A metal nail file (not shown) can be secured to the pivot pin 7 over theoperating lever 11 to further assist in manicuring nails.

In use, the individual positions the nail clipper 1 such that thecutting edges 4, 5 are around the portion of the nail to be clipped.Then the user would gently move the operating lever 11 downwards,thereby compressing the cutting blades 4, 5 and clipping the unwantednail. As the cutting edges 4, 5 are released, the clipped nail 9naturally bounces off the grommet 8 and drops into the receptacle 10formed by the grommet 8. Upon completion, the user simply empties theclipper 1 by inverting it over a trash bin and allows the collectedclippings 9 to easily fall out of clipper 1.

The nail clipper 1 collects nail clippings 9 neatly and efficiently, andallows the user to dispose the clippings 9 in a sanitary manner, whicheffectively reduces the spread of germs and bacteria. Additionally, thenail clipper 1 possesses a simple and scalable design and is fabricatedof lightweight materials providing an appropriate degree of flexibility,resiliency, durability, and longevity. The nail clipper 1 is alsoinexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide for widespread use anddisposability.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certainmodifications of the concept underlying the present invention, variousother embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of theembodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to thoseskilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept.It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically set forth herein.

1. A nail clipper that prevents the unconstrained ejection andpropulsion of cut nail clippings comprising: a first plate and a secondplate, each of said plates are connected at one end and include cuttingedges at an opposing end; a fastener inserted through said first andsecond plates at a spaced distance between said cutting edges; anoperating lever connected to said fastener, whereby said lever rests ontop surface of said first plate, said lever moves said cutting edgestogether and apart; and a grommet encircling said fastener between saidfirst and second plates, whereby said grommet is a barrier for clippednails which are easily and sanitarily caught within said clipper.
 2. Anail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said cutting edges arecontoured.
 3. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said firstand second plates, fastener, and operating lever comprise stainlesssteel.
 4. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said operatinglever is an operating thumb-detent lever.
 5. A nail clipper according toclaim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a pivot pin.
 6. A nail clipperaccording to claim 1, wherein said grommet comprises rubber.
 7. A nailclipper according to claim 1, wherein said grommet comprisespolyethylene foam.
 8. A nail clipper that prevents the unconstrainedejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings comprising: a first plateincluding a down turned cutting edge at one end and a first bore drilledthrough said first plate proximate said cutting edge, and a second boredrilled through an opposing end; a second plate including an upturnededge at one end and a third bore drilled through said second plateproximate said cutting edge, and a fourth bore drilled through anopposing end; a first fastener passing through said second and fourthbores; a second fastener inserted through said first and third bores ata spaced distance between said cutting edges; an operating leverconnected to said fastener, whereby said lever rests on top surface ofsaid first plate, said lever moves said cutting edges together andapart; and a grommet encircling said second fastener between said firstand second plates, whereby said grommet is a barrier for clipped nailswhich are easily and sanitarily caught within said clipper.
 9. A nailclipper according to claim 8, wherein said cutting edges are contoured.10. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said first and secondplates, fasteners, and operating lever comprise stainless steel.
 11. Anail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said operating lever is anoperating thumb-detent lever.
 12. A nail clipper according to claim 8,wherein said second fastener comprises a pivot pin.
 13. A nail clipperaccording to claim 8, wherein said grommet comprises rubber.
 14. A nailclipper according to claim 8, wherein said grommet comprisespolyethylene foam.